Flagging suicides: Cyberbullying, trolling have to stop; we too are human beings

Somebody can act and look just great but can still be suffering from suicidal thoughts. I was dealing with depression but I made it through. My mental health was rapidly declining & I felt like I had nothing to live for. Every day was a struggle to get up out of bed or to socialize with anyone, you just get that tunnel vision and feel alone but I've given it my all every day to push through it and live a better life. It's hard talking about this topic without getting emotional. But it's a fight I have to stay ready for. Mental health is just as vital as physical health. Depression is not a weakness. A reminder that mental health should NEVER be weaponized ridiculed or questioned.

Cyberbullying is a serious problem and could turn to be a crime. Depression isn't a joke. Some people show it, some people don't. But if you listen to them carefully, you can hear their cries for help. Sometimes all you need to do is listen. Unless and until our society recognizes cyberbullying for what it is, the suffering of thousands of silent victims will continue. Depression is real. Cyberbullying affects persons in ways you can't imagine, even if you think it's a joke, you never know what someone is going through. Depression can affect anyone, and social status, income, career, sexuality, religion, political stance, race, or creed.

All humans bleed red, and our minds can fail us. More empathy for those suffering is what society needs, and the stigma needs to be broken. Cyberbullying is very real and causes real, sometimes irreversible damage. If anyone feels like it is too dark, I hope you remember that there are always bits of light found somewhere if you hold on a little longer. You are loved. You are not alone. You do matter. Do not suffer in silence, talk to someone. You NEVER know who is hurting. Smile at the random stranger on the street, be kind not just this month but make it a habit it will make a difference. You never know. There is not a day that goes by where I'm not grateful to be alive. I am unbelievably lucky & blessed to have parents who are so courageous & support me through everything. They have created a strong young man today and I'm forever thankful for their sacrifices & for their unconditional love and support.

I believe in depression and anxiety but I also believe that one cannot have that weak of a mind to fall into any of them. I will always fight for women, children, LGBTQ, human & civil rights! I'll be gone for a bit to focus on myself. I have friends and family helping me out so I'll be ok. CYBER-BULLYING affects MILLIONS a year, leading to low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, self-harm, & suicide. You ARE NOT the labels they put on you. Experienced extreme bullying and victim-blaming after surviving sexual assault in high school. The trauma of an assault can last forever. Even years later, the persistent trauma, anxiety, and isolation that survivors endure are egregiously overlooked and sometimes, tragically die by suicide. I hope people can start to realize that what you say online can have a serious effect on people.

I was bullied as an adult, for being too colorful, for being myself. I had no one standing up for me, so I dulled my shine until I had the courage to live my truth. Stand up for those who can't, today & every day! Being different is being perfect, and people are too scared to be themselves or being judged; people live in circles sometimes and don't look outside of it. Keep shining. Celebrate your life. Because if someone is coming after you, it means that you have something that they don't. You are special. You are loved. Keep going. No one should live in fear of bullying or harassment simply for being who they are. To our LGBTQ+ youth: I see you. I love you. I will never stop fighting for you. Together, we stand against bullying because we all deserve to be unapologetically ourselves without fear of bullying or retaliation. I refuse to allow hate and discrimination to divide us. I'm wearing purple today to show LGBTQ+ youth I've got their backs! I don't have a coming-out story; I am a coming-out story. Be kind to yourself. I will continue to fight back against those who wish to take this country backward.

After COViD, there will be an epidemic of mental health problems. COVID 19 kills but so does a recession or a depression. Negative emotions such as anxiety and depression can weaken your immune system. This lockdown is going to be very hard for people who're suffering from depression, suicidal thoughts, and other mental health problems. Lockdown will cause a lot of people to enter a war with their own minds. Look out for your friends but most importantly look out for yourself! Please talk to someone you trust, someone who you KNOW will be there for you when you're going through it. Social distancing doesn't mean you have to be alone. The pandemic is affecting us all but can be catastrophic for people with mental health and addiction challenges. The virus will heal but the stain of Social REJECTION and Psychological TRAUMA won't. WE NEED TO BE SOCIALLY CLOSER THAN EVER. DEPRESSION is no Joke, it does not discriminate. It can affect anyone. We all struggle, there's no SHAME in getting help. People shouldn't feel afraid to talk about their mental health. The only way we'll end the STIGMA is by continuing to talk about it. It's ok not to be ok. Encourage others to seek help when they need it.

Bullying is an epidemic; the long-term mental health effects are devastating. It affects mental health and lowers self-esteem. And this is why many people in the community are afraid to come out because they will be judged. Fat shaming, misgendering, and passing homophobic comments are not OKAY. Time to wake up and realize that kindness costs nothing. The community has scrutinized & vilified me for months. Our culture of gossiping & bullying has to stop! I was threatened, bullied, and lived in anguish for the lack of finding support. Cyberbullying is something we should absolutely take more seriously, no matter the partisan affiliation. Internet mobilization can lead to positive change, but can also have devastating consequences. Take this time to value life no matter what life they lived all lives matter. This is so important. Trolling, Cyberbullying have to stop.

I really can't believe having regular therapist sessions/psychiatric checkups aren't as normalized as doctor's visits? One should never ever be ashamed to seek help. Is the mind not a part of your body? Depression in Men IS REAL. A MAN is HUMAN. He has emotions, he cries, goes into depression. Let us be more compassionate than being cold to our fellow human beings, never know what one is going through behind the smiles. Sometimes life is much more painful than death. Life doesn't have its decision to choose but death has. People who die by suicide do not want to end their lives; they want to end their pain. It's high time we start taking mental health seriously.

Men's mental health matters too. We live in a society where the stigma and shame around male mental health and emotional health are causing epidemic levels of male suicide. Suicide rates in men are much higher due to stigma concerning seeking mental health support. Most men who kill themselves don't talk about their depression. Mental illness and mental wellness as a whole, it doesn't discriminate. As a society, we must make it easier for people to seek out help. Stigma kills; too many young men and women are dying due to lack of support. Remember it is okay to reach out for help. We all need support - some of us need more.

Social Media is just a colorful Illusion, check on your loved ones, talk to them when you see the telltale signs. People put on a brave face, fake smiles daily to make others comfortable but people are suffocating deep down. Mental health isn't a battle that needs to be fought alone. Mental health is just as crucial as physical. You don't have to be raving mad on the streets before you need to see a psychiatrist. My head is healthy but unendingly full. There's no shame in having mental health issues. I'm seeing my psychiatrist today; we both agree I'm doing better. Struggling with anxiety and depression means celebrating the days you're free from it. My therapist has helped me so much. I get emotional when people thank me and say that I made them realize mental well-being and helped them set aside their hesitation to approach a psychiatrist. There's no shame in having mental health issues. If you have mental health issues don't hesitate to seek medical help. Get referred to a psychiatrist & psychotherapist. Don't suffer alone & in silence. I thank god for giving me this opportunity to help others. If you're reading this and you genuinely believe that you might have an anxiety disorder or depression, please seek help, a friend, parent, school guidance counselor, or even better, a psychiatrist. Remember, your mental health is just as important as your physical health.

Every 40 seconds someone dies of Suicide. Every day is Suicide Prevention DAY. Suicide Prevention is much more than a 'Crisis Hotline' or 'Check on Your Friends'; Suicide Prevention starts with a conversation we are NOT having about our mental health, TOGETHER we can END THE STIGMA. Suicide Prevention is equitable access to mental health education; Include mental health education and screening in secondary schools for early intervention & stigma busting. Suicide Prevention is ending racism, sexism, gender-based discrimination, homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia. Going to therapy is a privilege. I am alive because of my privilege. Not everyone can afford a therapist; Suicide Prevention is accessible mental health services, funding mental health treatment, substantial mental health support, and universal healthcare. Accessible mental healthcare should be a human right, not a privilege. Suicide Prevention is fighting the SYSTEM that deems mental health as a LUXURY for those who can afford it. Suicide is not a personal problem, it is a public health issue. Suicide Prevention is 'EVERYONE's' concern. 'YOU' are not ALONE!

The month of July will forever haunt me for the rest of my life. I'm neither embarrassed nor ashamed. Suicide is a subject I know all too well. So much has happened in this one week and I'm relieved to turn this page of the calendar. Every time I hear about someone's suicide, I am reminded that I survived. Reminding that no matter how low life has been or is the story isn't over. It was a rainy stormy day here, but still beautiful. There are opportunities in every crisis. Most great changes are preceded by chaos. I know I might have hurt so many people on here, but I just had to vent. This year has taken a toll on me. Lately, I have noticed I was feeling a little down. The state of lockdown and so many months of sickness and death has triggered trauma for many. Depression is a terrible thing. I'm doing better. I'm not suicidal. I will never get tired of saying 'Suicide Is Not The Answer' & trust me I know the feeling of pain, hurt, and anger and not seeing the light but there is always hope. The sun will rise in the morning, that there is a light at the end of every tunnel. To anyone struggling, please don't suffer in silence. You are not alone. There will always be someone there to help you. If I can do it, you can too. Taking some time to find peace and to love myself a little more. Mental health is unpredictable. Talking to a therapist has taught me that suicide is permanent and I can't undo it. I am truly grateful and forever humbled by everyone who has reached out. As someone who has been going through it for the past few days (and years), try to avoid saying what depressed & suicidal people "should do". That can further isolate people who already feel at a loss with everything around them.

In the midst of the pandemic, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by hopelessness and despair. Mental health is an issue that needs to be addressed more seriously now. Depression is a disease. Depression is not sadness. Negative emotions are normal. Happiness is NOT a choice when you're "clinically" depressed. Talking with friends and family is great but serotonin levels in the brain will not balance, you will suffer again. "Talk to a mental health professional" as in a therapist, clinic, or hotline staffed by people who've been trained in responses to depression and other mental health issues. There's a lot of stigma behind needing mental health assistance. No one should ever feel inferior or weak to talk or seek help through therapy or medication. You are courageous and you're taking control of your life and mental health. Please feel free to ask me for advice on who/where to go to. I'm willing to listen and try to help. It's a struggle and that's okay. When someone reaches out to you; talk, console and suggest going to see a therapist. You might save a life.

The brain is not a separate thing from the body. I sought treatment for my depression, rather than let it kill me. I've seen a therapist and have been on medication. Our society considers this a "red flag". People need to understand that because I am active on social media, dropping fine photos and intelligent posts don't mean I'm okay. So much going wrong. I'm not suicidal, nor will I be. Anxiety and depression are overwhelming. We all need help sometimes. Sometimes you have everything but chemicals in your brain that disagrees. Sometimes the chemicals in your brain take over and win. Sometimes it's a confidence that is lacking. Sometimes you are literally so sad and most of the time don't even have a reason to be. Sometimes "happy things" won't fix it. The chemicals in your brain do not define your worth as a person. A lot of us are dealing with different issues but must continue working hard and holding on. Every single thing will get better. Shout out to everyone who tries to love & understand people who are struggling with depression & anxiety. I hope you never get tired. Depression and mood disorders are common and usually respond very well to treatment. To consider mental health care shameful is so... medieval, for too long has seen a psychiatrist been treated as something disreputable. I have seen and experienced punitive actions towards those who disclose a mental illness. I don't want people to think differently of me or give me pity. Mental Health has got to be a part of our "wonkiness". Openly talking about suicide is important for a lot of reasons but the biggest is that it gives someone struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide the "Okay" to talk about it. Also, suicidal ideation doesn't always mean death, sometimes it means to dissolve and disappear. A therapist told me one time- You don't want to die. You just don't want to live.

Not enough people talk about how suicidal ideation is a thing. Suicidal is a state of mind, not the act of suicide which people seem to not realize. Suicidal ideation is as adverse as a suicide attempt. Take it from a Survivor- There is strength in vulnerability. In the depths of depression, never be afraid to ask for help. Destigmatize mental healthcare. "Normalize" talking about your mental health issues & seeking support. Let's start the conversation. I'm so grateful for another chance. I promise you it gets better. My experience makes me a better educator. Together we can stop suicide. Just weeks ago, Saturday was different for me. Time moves forward and it waits for no one. It's hard to be diligent to choose forward - but there is "HOPE". Life goes on. Make mistakes & "LEARN". It's Okay Not to be "OKAY". I'm thankful for my Health, my MIND, and my "LIFE". I'm doing well.

It's humbling to know that there're people who genuinely care for my well-being. Look out for your loved ones, notice their changed behavior, tap into their energy, ask them questions, and connect. I've never been comfortable sharing much about myself. Since a very young age, I have struggled with depression & suicidal thoughts. I was put through too much at a young age and I still struggle today. I was raised to not talk about it, or my feelings, treated as if my problems were shameful and might cause a stir in my community, but I've realized I need to change that with hopes that it will help those who are feeling this way to find inspiration and courage and give the strength to never give up. Mental health is a personal journey; that said it doesn't have to be a private one. Therapy saved me. Let's STOP with the Stigma. Trying to heal is not weak. Going to Therapy is nothing to be ashamed of. Also, language is a very important component in destigmatizing mental health & suicide. A kind reminder please doesn't use the phrase "Committed Suicide" when describing death as a result of a suicide. It's outdated and harkens to "Committed a Crime" or "Committed a Sin". Please used "DIED BY SUICIDE" instead which aims to remove the stigma.

The pain of losing someone to suicide never ends; your questions are never answered. I thought it to be the best time to create a Safe & Confidential Space which Aids "MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID" and encourage "TALKING". *YOU ARE ENOUGH* will focus on Mental Wellness and will Advocate for those struggling with Mental Illness, Suicidal Thoughts & Ideations. Please don't suffer in silence, reach out, ask for help, and please know I'm here. Each passing day people fall into depression. Some cases lead to death, some mental disorders. Like many of you, I suffered from anxiety and deep depression. I'm on a mission to break down the stigma surrounding mental health. Remember that you will never be alone in this. It's okay to ask for help, it's okay to talk about how you're feeling, and it's okay to not be okay. Depression doesn't have to be fatal. You don't have to fight alone. Let's fight it together.